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Petty and spiteful sums up most of the comments above.
After years of no hopers, you start to desert ship as soon as the going gets tough.
You fretted about him agreeing to an AV vote and getting involved in Libya (not too much said since).
Cameron is the best we have had for a very long time and we should all stop carping and find some loyalty!
stephen s
Name a viable alternative to David Cameron!
Is Cameron strong or weak? Imperious or dismissive? Genial or bland? Calm or equivocal?
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter Matthew Parris is at his best in The Times (£) this morning. In a beautifully written piece he argues that at some point soon the British people will decide about David Cameron as they decided about Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Despite lots of evide...
An excellent article. Loyalty please!
Bruce Anderson: Right-wing pundits should stop the belly-aching and let Cameron get on with a very difficult job
The wisest Tory aphorism was minted by Lord Falkland: "When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change". That does leave open the question of how to tell when change is necessary, but even so. The silver medal goes to an Irishism, which is also the best guide to the recent hist...
Heroes or scared rabbits reacting to the loudest shouting local activists?
Stephen S
The 81 Conservative MPs who voted for a referendum
Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) Steve Baker (Wycombe) John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) Andrew Bingham (High Peak) Brian Binley (Northampton South) Bob Blackman (Harrow East) Peter Bone (Wellingborough)* Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West) Andrew Bridgen (Leicestershire NW) Steve Brine (Winch...
I very much agree with Nicholas Bennett. Bob Neil is an excellent MP.
Bromley councillors generally have a grip on things and recognise the difficulties of dealing with reduced budgets.
They shouldn't expect to be liked by anyone. It's crucial that they try and see the bigger picture!
stephen s
Sunday Telegraph's fictitious attack on Bob Neill
Melissa Kite, the Deputy Political Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, has form running unsourced speculative fiction. This morning she has persuaded her paper to print a story about Local Government Minister Bob Neill facing deselection. The article also claims: One councillor claims that Mr Pickle...
When are you going to initiate a major drive to stop the draining away of our membership?
Questions for you?
Please use the thread below to suggest topics for this month's grassroots survey. Questions will be sent out tomorrow and published later this week.
Nicely measured piece Paul.
I initially thought Mr Cable should have beeb sacked, but on reflection, I think David Cameron has once again shown his potential to become a very great Prime Minister.
stephen s
The Telegraph tapes are a Westminster Wikileaks. But the Government will survive. Entrapment will become more common. And politicians will turn even more timid.
by Paul Goodman Once upon a time, the careers of Cabinet members could be brutally terminated, and governments shaken to their foundations, by Ministers' financial or sexual deeds. Today, politicians can be humiliated, and this Coalition rocked, by their words alone - words spoken about...polit...
An excellent piece from Paul.Certainly chimes with my thinking.
David Cameron has matured quickly and looks masterful at times.
He may well become a very great PM!
stephen s
David Cameron, Prime Minister, six months on
By Paul Goodman Tomorrow, David Cameron will have served as Prime Minister for six months. Here's my take on what he's like, how he's doing, where he's going. David Cameron is the ultimate Conservative establishment politician... I remember being taken to lunch - at Whites! (of which his fa...
I'm with Rebecca!
Come on, let's get out there and do our very best in the next few days to help our leader achieve a wonderful victory!
stephen s
Exclusive preview of the latest phase of the Conservative poster camapign
Monday will see the launch of the latest phase of the Conservatives' national poster campaign. Earlier in the week saw the launch of this poster stating that the Conservatives would cut benefits for those who refuse to work and another highlighting Labour's jobs tax. The latest four posters all ...
Please, let's all pull together. Cameron is fighting back. We can win! Put all other points of view aside for a couple of weeks and this is really achievable!
Elaine is so right!
Stephen S
Tory lead remains at 5%
No big impact from the second debate or Fleet Street's attack on Nick Clegg. Tim Montgomerie11.15pm More in The Daily Mail.
Jonathan Isaby and bobchilts are absolutely right. Let's not get drawn into a political stunt.
The Question Time audience made it plain what they thought of Farage's yobbish behaviour!
We now all need to put our differences aside and go for Brown & co!
stephen s
David Cameron gives his full backing to John Bercow's re-election bid in Buckingham
The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, launched his bid for re-election in his Buckingham constituency yesterday with official backing from all three main political parties, including explicit messages of support from David Cameron and the chairman of Buckingham Conservative association. The Bucks ...
Nigel is a good rabble rouser, but lets himself down by increasingly acting in a yobbish and adolescent way.
He is no friend of ours!
stephen s
Nigel Farage compares Herman van Rompuy, new EU President, to "damp rag" and "low-grade bank clerk"
Yes, Iain Dale would be a good choice, but so would Tariq. He was an excellent candidate in the recent selection process at Beckenham.
The other four look pretty good too!
stephen s
Shortlist for Surrey East
The finalists seeking to replace Peter Ainsworth as Conservative candidate for Surrey East are: Tariq Ahmad - Website Former – Vice President and Director, Marketing Communications Current – Director of Marketing, Strategy and Research for Sucden Financial; Vice Chairman of the Party PPC – Croyd...
A dated idea. David Cameron established himself (like him or not!) sometime ago.
A film on his team would probably be a good idea, but a minor reshuffle to bring back David Davis and Malcolm Rifkin should take place first!
stephen s
Closing the deal 10/10: Make 'Cameron the movie'
Remember Kinnock the movie? It was groundbreaking for the time (if a touch cheesy) but, at ten minutes, a little too long perhaps. David Cameron is the party's biggest asset (well, second biggest asset if you count Labour's record of failure) and he should be front and centre in our campaign...
Stephen S in reply to Watt Tyler
I lived in the Bromley area when NF stood against Bob Neil etc. I even attended a local UKIP meeting to get a close look at NF. He was supported by the odious Simon Heffer and generally came across as a good rabble rouser.
I have since seen NF several times locally and often on the television. He always seemed arrogant and self-important (self-serving?). He often struggled when his populist points failed to rouse the mob!
He should leave his comfort zone and join the Conservative. We would then see if he has it in him to to be a team player and perhaps work his way up to
head a likewise thinking ginger group.
I understand some of the dislike of John Bercow, but we should really concentrate all of our efforts on turfing out the ghastly Brown and co.
Any vote for UKIP is self indulgent and gives our foe a chance to make mischief against us and to hold on to marginal seats. Thus denying us a working marjority.
stephen s
Buckingham Tories ordered by CCHQ to campaign for John Bercow or stay silent
Francis Elliott in this morning's Times reported that "the Tory leader has made clear to party members in Mr Bercow’s Buckingham constituency that he will eject anyone found helping Nigel Farage, standing for UKIP against the Speaker at the election." At the time of Nigel Farage's decision to ...
Steve H has it about right.
Let's not forget how self-serving NF is!
stephen s
Buckingham Tories ordered by CCHQ to campaign for John Bercow or stay silent
Francis Elliott in this morning's Times reported that "the Tory leader has made clear to party members in Mr Bercow’s Buckingham constituency that he will eject anyone found helping Nigel Farage, standing for UKIP against the Speaker at the election." At the time of Nigel Farage's decision to ...
A well received result, but Tariq was really first class.
A strong performance from Lynn Hack as well!
stephen s
Bob Stewart selected for Beckenham
I have just heard the news that Bob Stewart has been selected to replace Jacqui Lait as Conservative candidate for Beckenham. Sally Marks was eliminated on the first ballot and he won the requisite 50%+1 on the second ballot. He described himself on the Beckenham website prior to the primary t...
Why didn't the local selection committee insist on a better outcome?
Syed, James and Nicholas Bennett are better than at least two of the selected males.
stephen s
Exclusion of local candidates upsets Beckenham grassroots
There is growing discontent amongst members of the Beckenham Conservative Executive over the shortlist for the seat. The Executive at its' meeting on October 21st indicated that it wanted to someone who would be a first rate constituency MP and that the preference was for a local candidate. Th...
Syad Kamall, James Cleverley and Nicholas Bennett are better qualified than at least two of the males selected.
But, it's wrong to blame GCHQ entirely. Why didn't the local selection committee insist on a better outcome?
Stephen S
Exclusion of local candidates upsets Beckenham grassroots
There is growing discontent amongst members of the Beckenham Conservative Executive over the shortlist for the seat. The Executive at its' meeting on October 21st indicated that it wanted to someone who would be a first rate constituency MP and that the preference was for a local candidate. Th...
Sally Rooberts and Wayne are talking sense. We really can be a narrow minded lot.
Let's give David Cameron our full support as he has really pulled us up to within sight of real success next Sring.
Stephen S
Tory backbenchers and the grassroots deserve better from the leadership
Yesterday afternoon and until 8am this morning nearly 1,900 Tory members voted on the issue of All Women Shortlists. The emphatic verdict is captured in the graphic below: Almost more powerful than those numbers, however, is this comment: John Maples writes for ConHome today about the All Wo...
Good speech, but let's always remember that we need to pull together and play a blinder over the next few months to get over the winning post.
Stephen S
Compassionate conservatism is for real
I sometimes worry about the detail of Project Cameron but his one nation vision of conservatism is impressive. Today's Party Conference speech should prove once again that David Cameron is serious about social justice. Harry Benson wrote about the steep marginal tax rates facing the poor on Ce...
He earned his promotion, but has surprisingly misfired ever since.
Maybe he has been over promoted or he is trying too hard to out do Alan Johnson, who is clever and has a sense of humour!
Stephen S
Chris Grayling must move on from "shallow" soundbites
Chris Grayling became shadow home secretary as a reward for his attack doggery. He was part of the "pub ready" reshuffle that also saw the elevation of Eric Pickles and Mark Francois. Attack doggery and pub readiness is not what the party needs six months on. It needs gravitas and a preparedness...
I agree with earlier comments. Sayeeda Warsi deserves better from us.
At least she takes the fight to our distractors. Unlike some of our so called 'stars'
Stephen S
William Hague remains favourite member of David Cameron's team
The collapse in support for Alan Duncan was noted yesterday. The full shadow cabinet satisfaction league table is published today. There are no other significant movements although Chris Grayling continues to slip a little while Caroline Spelman continues to recover her standing since her move...
It's got nothing to do with Alan's 'home' life. I was I was a big fan of his until recently. But, his performances as Shadow Leader of the House have been fun on one level, but these and his recent 'mouthings' have shown him to be lightweight and complacent!
It will take a huge effort to come through next May. Alan should do the right thing and stand down and give one of or talented young members a chance.
Stephen S
Support for Alan Duncan sinks still further
I will publish the full shadow cabinet ratings for end-August tomorrow but the result for Alan Duncan is worth highlighting. 1,311 Tory members voted in the survey and the level of dissatisfaction with Mr Duncan's performance is huge: Mr Duncan's rating has declined dramatically from just two ...
This story adds to others of late. I think Labour will be pleased how things have gone for us of late.
The polls may well reflect this in due course!
Stephen S
Tories seek to 'decapitate' Ed Balls, Ben Bradshaw, Alistair Darling, John Denham, Jim Murphy and Jack Straw
The Liberal Democrats may not have succeeded in 'decapitating' key members of the Tory leadership at the last election (Charles Kennedy had hoped to oust David Davis, Michael Howard and Theresa May) but the Conservatives, says The Telegraph's Andrew Pierce, are hopeful that tactical voting and...
We really should find some dicispline. Let's all pull together to try and win the next election. Give David Cameron his due - so far so good!
Simon Heffer launches strongest attack yet on David Cameron
In his column for tomorrow's Telegraph - already online - Simon Heffer accuses David Cameron of "moral and intellectual flaws", "cronyism", "tokenism", " political and intellectual vacuity" and spouting "drivel". George Osborne is described as Cameron's "economically illiterate shadow chancello...
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